Suggia, Guilhermina
Suggia, Guilhermina
Suggia, Guilhermina, gifted Portuguese cellist; b. Oporto, June 27, 1888; d. there, July 31, 1950. She was a child prodigy, making her first public appearance at age 7, and became first cellist in the Oporto Orch. when she was 12. Under the patronage of the Queen of Portugal, she was sent to Leipzig in 1904 to study with Julius Klengel; in 1905 she joined the Gewandhaus Orch. there. In 1906 she began studies with Casals; they subsequently lived and toured together, although they were never legally married; she appeared in concerts as Mme. Casals-Suggia until they parted company in 1912. Shortly afterward she settled in London, where she continued to appear in concerts until 1949, when she went back to Portugal. She was greatly appreciated for her fine musicianship as well as virtuosity. In 1923 Augustus John painted her portrait, which became famous.
Bibliography
F. Pombo, G. S. ou o violoncelo luxuriante (Porto, 1993); idem, G. S.: A Sonata de sempre (Porto, 1996).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire